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Selby Library to host discussion series

Selby Library to host discussion series on race and 'Citizen: An American Lyric'

Post Date:09/28/2017 1:54 PM

SARASOTA COUNTY - Selby Public Library will host a six-week reading and discussion program on Claudia Rankine's "Citizen: An American Lyric" and its theme of racism in everyday life.

The National Book Award Committee states that "[through] marrying prose, poetry, and the visual image, 'Citizen' investigates the ways in which racism pervades daily American social and cultural life, rendering certain of its citizens politically invisible." The book is a New York Times bestseller and has received numerous awards, including the 2014 National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry, the 2015 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry and the 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry.

Participants will read Rankine's text (books will be provided) while participating in weekly guided discussions led by New College Professor Sarah Osment. Participants are invited to share and explore their experiences in relation to themes in the text, and engage in respectful and dialogue with the ultimate goal of shared understanding. Light refreshments will be provided.

The program will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 17, 24 and Nov. 7 and 14 at the Creation Station at Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota.

Space is limited, and registration is required. Register online at scgov.net/library using the events calendar. This program is funded by the Florida Humanities Council and the Friends of Selby Public Library.

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000.